Belarusian theatre directors unbowed by coronavirus, political exile

Natalia Kaliada and Nikolai Khalezin of Belarus Free Theatre pose for a photograph in their apartment in London, Britain September 24, 2020. Picture taken September 24, 2020 REUTERS/John Sibley

LONDON (Reuters) - Theatre director Natalia Kaliada says she was working under lockdown long before the coronavirus pandemic, forced to work at a distance with actors and others in her native Belarus after being driven into political exile in London nearly a decade ago.

Her 'Belarus Free Theatre', which has operated underground since dissident artists founded it in 2005, is marking its 15th anniversary just as Belarus is convulsed by protests against its veteran president, Alexander Lukashenko.